Story Stones

I have seen so many different types of painted stones online for all sorts of educational purposes. I decided that since I most certainly am not a painter but, I really wanted a set for my classroom that I would have to come up with an alternative that even I could make. My solution... modge podge to the rescue! I cut out some interesting pictures that I found in a magazine and simply stuck them on with modge podge then let them dry and ta da!

My own set of story stones!

 

 

Here is how I use story stones in the pre-k classroom.

I call the children over one at a time for this activity. I have each child choose six stones from the box. I then encourage each child to tell me a story using the stones as inspiration. Each stone has to be used in the story in some way. This way I am guaranteed more than a one sentence story which can sometimes happen. It's funny, children can tell stories all day long but as soon as you ask them to tell you one and put them on the spot they freeze up. So these stones help to give them topics to come up with and interesting situations for the characters and objects to get into. I write down their stories while they are telling their tale and read them back to them when they are finished. I then ask the children to illustrate their story. After each of the children have finished I have them share their stories with their classmates. 

The children love this activity! Many of them wanted to write story after story which I just love! It was amazing how creative their stories really were. Aside from the children having to use language skills to tell the story and fine motor skills to draw the story. They also are engaging in a great sensory experience while they interact with the stones. I think the next set, I will have to make with seashells or maybe wooden pieces...the possibilities are endless and it's a great way to bring natural materials into the classroom in an engaging way.

Happy story telling to all!



Wooden Alphabet

Wooden alphabet pieces!

 

I recruited my fiancé to help me with this project because I do not trust myself with power tools at all! LoL Thank goodness he's such a great sport!

 

So we went out to our backyard to rescue a branch that had fallen in the last snow storm. He then cut it into 26 wooden discs, one for each letter.

 

 

If you don't want to cut your own or don't have access to the tools to do so you can buy them already pre cut here for a great price. Granite Woods

 

I convinced my fiancé to open up this shop when I originally wanted to purchase the wood and he said, "no way, I can do it!" That sounded fabulous to me!

 

 

Once the discs were cut I dusted them off and just sanded them very gently, they didn't need much. 

 

 

Then I painted one side with 

chalkboard paint, and ta da!!!

 

Such a fun way to bring literacy and nature together!

Want to purchase your own set click here.



Library and Literacy Area

Library and Literacy Area!

 

This year I decided to move our library into our old science area. It is a much larger space and my hope is that the students will be able to relax and feel more comfortable with fewer distractions.

 

 

Library Area Equipment

* Books

* Beanbag and pillows to add a soft/comfort element

* Reading buddies (stuffed animals)

* Puppets

* Puppet theatre

* Thinking vs talking bubble puppets

* Felt board (made from a pizza box)

* Felt pieces for story retells

* Alphabet cards and tile pieces

* Environmental print basket

* Alphabet sensory jar

* Calm down kit

* Reading eyes (popsicle stick with a googly eye)

* Reading wands

* Capital / lowercase letter matching game

* Name tags

* Letter of the week box

 

Children learn best through hands on play and independent investigation! That's why it is so important to keep relevant materials for the children to use in a variety of ways.



Spring egg color word game!

Tuesday 2 egg freebie!

 

Click here for freebie!

 

Egg crate color word writing game!

 

The children are invited to take turns throwing a pom pom into the egg crate! Whichever color the pom pom lands in that is the color word they write. I keep my color word print out in a clear sleeve and the students write it with a dry erase marker to cut down on all the paper.

 

Spring egg file folder game!

 

 

Students must match the first letter (by sounding it out) to the color for which it corresponds for some phonemic fun. The color words are included for students to match as well.

 

Letter of the Week!

In my classroom, like many others we have a letter of the week that we focus on! 

 Here is our system!

I introduce our letter of the week with a mystery box! I put all sorts of items in the box that start with our letter of the week. I then write down the items on a chart after the child who takes the item out identifies it! I always try to put enough items in for each child to have a turn! 

We leave this box in our science center throughout the week with a list of all the items on the inside for the children to explore and practice writing if they choose. 

After this initial introduction we have a brainstorming session about what other words begin with that letter and we practice making the sound of the letter. 

I then hang up the list near our circle area so that it is at the children's eye level. 

We then will decorate the letter of the week, it is usually based on our theme in this case we used feathers for letter F. 

We then play a dice game to look at both capital F and lower case f. 

The children roll a die with F's and f's and must fill in the squares to see which one will reach the top first!

We also will have the children circle all the F's or whatever the letter of the week is in our month poem and complete a mini book about the letter.

Different themes have different activities that we will incorporate into our letter of the week! The more exposure to the letter the better! : )

Alphabet Match

Magnetic Alphabet Match!

Bulletin borders can be used for awesome matching games! 

I like to make mine magnetic so that I am utilizing the radiators and all the space in my classroom.  

 

Egg Carton Alphabet Soup!

Another fabulous use for egg cartons! 

Alphabet Soup!!!

The egg carton has the capital letters while the cut out pieces have the lower case letters. 

Children simply match the lower case letters to the capitals until all of the letters are complete then the teacher can check their work.
 

Free and easy to make! : )

 Free download for complete directions and alphabet print outs!

Egg Carton Alphabet Soup

Name Puzzles!

The children in my class this year absolutely love puzzles!

 I have many puzzles that help with letters and words but I decided since many of them needed help with recognizing their last names why not make some puzzles to help!


I simply wrote each child's first and last name in large letters on a piece of colored construction paper then had the children color it in to give some guiding visuals to put the puzzle together. We then traced a puzzle to follow as a guide and cut it out and (ta da!) the puzzle was complete.

We Love Books!

In my classroom...

We  <3 Books

This is what hangs from the ceiling in the middle of my classroom! We <3 Books.  

Every time we read a story as a group, we write the title and the author on a small piece of paper (in the shape of an open book) and add it to our wall and ceiling. 

It's a great way to show all the reading that goes on during the children's time at school! 

Once it becomes really full I simply take a few down and add them into a classroom book! 

Happy reading friends! : )

Print Rich Environments!

What is the importance of a print rich environment? 

That's easy! Children learn best through hands-on, meaningful play experiences within a well prepared environment! This is also important to remember in terms of developmentally appropriate practices where children are able to learn these literary concepts in a way which is both meaningful and fun to them instead of by rote or by being forced to sit and write a page full of ‘R’s. Learning should be spontaneous and fun when you’re in preschool! This sets children up with a love for school and for learning throughout their life! 

What does a print rich environment need?

* Lots of books! In every area of the classroom not just the library!

* Class and child made books about their experiences.

* Children's magazines. I also bring in travel magazines and brochures to add to my block area for inspiration and geography appreciation.

* Story tapes with the book to follow along.

* Items labeled throughout the classroom but not overdone where it is           overstimulating to the children.

* Felt boards for acting out familiar stories or creating their own.

* Puppets both big and small. I love finger puppets and make them myself for the classroom! I now sell them on etsy as well!

* A soft comfortable area of the classroom to relax with a good book. 

* Dictations written by the teacher pertaining to questions about their lessons in the children's own words. This shows children that their thoughts and words are valued and can be made into print. 

* Accessible games and activities with letters / words that the children can use and manipulate on their own. 
* Sensory bottles filled with letters, names and sight words for a more hands on bodily kinesthetic experience. 

Sight Word Book!

Sight Word Book!!!

So easy and so simple! The picture with the word in an alphabet book! 

What an easy way to bring in more print for a literary rich classroom or home!